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| | Monday 30 June, 2008 | | Blog: Italy’s most unwanted | | Juventus and Atalanta fans have vetoed moves for Dejan Stankovic and Christian Vieri, a stance James Horncastle supports |  |  | | Followers of Juventus and Atalanta have expressed their unease at the Bianconeri and Nerazzurri’s respective interest in Dejan Stankovic and Christian Vieri. But should clubs be allowed to sign whoever they like regardless of their supporters’ reservations?
Two signs have recently been placed just outside the cities of Turin and Bergamo warning Dejan Stankovic and Christian Vieri they are not welcome and should think again before signing for Juventus and Atalanta. Why? Because the clubs’ fans consider them unfit to honour the badge and wear the shirt, which it adorns, for the simple reason that the two players have in the past been disrespectful towards the Bianconeri and Nerazzurri.
At first glance, the Ultras’ protests against the transfers appear narrow minded, a trifle flippant perhaps and detrimental to their clubs. But their dissent, far from being frivolous, reflects a battle for the soul of the game, which is under threat of extinction by corporate and private interests who are increasingly hard of hearing when faced with supporters’ grievances.
The case against Stankovic is as illustrative as any. Here is a player who signed a contract with Juventus in 2004 only to leap into the arms of Inter after President Massimo Moratti offered him more money. Here is also a man who never misses an opportunity to bring up Calciopoli and drag Juventus’ name through the mud, a man who has revelled in the Bianconeri’s misfortunes, singing “we win without stealing” when Inter finally clinched Lo Scudetto in 2006.
Is it any wonder Juventus’ fans don’t want him at the club? I suppose many of them would accept that the Bianconeri could do with a player like Stankovic – linking the midfield with the attack – but not the person. If his name appeared on the back of a Juventus shirt, it would make a mockery of it.
When fans and their say in a club’s actions are increasingly under threat from detached for-profit owners, all too willing to hold values hostage to fortune, I think the Ultras should be commended for their stance and belief that football is not just about winning matches, but something much more profound.
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I would rather chew broken glass than have Stankovic play for Juventus, the man is narrow minded and deep down realizes he should have signed for Juve back in 2004. All his bitter words were because he knew that signing for Inter was a big mistake, he sacrificed trophies and glory for money and knows full well that Inter have only been successful because Juventus were weakened – and he can't take that. I would rather Juve did not win anything next season than have that mercenary playing for my club.
Rodney
The reaction of the Juve fans, at the prospect of Stankovic joining the club, is highly commendable. Not only for opposing the signing of the player, but for doing any business with Inter. There should be an ocean divide between these two clubs after Calciopoli/Farsopoli.
Jean Baglioni
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